Formerly king of Elam. He captured Babylon and overthrew the Chaldean dynasty (of which Nabonidus was the last king, with Belshazzar his son as commander-in-chief). He issued a decree allowing the Jews to return to the land of Judah and rebuild the temple, possibly as a token of gratitude for assistance given to him in his conquest (2 Chr. 36: 22; Ezra 1; Ezra 3: 7; Isa. 44: 28; Isa. 45: 1; Dan. 1: 21; Dan. 6: 28; Dan. 10: 1).